Sports
Photos: Apple Valley Boys Lacrosse Starts Strong to Hold Off Eagan
The host Eagles jumped out to a 6-0 lead in boys lacrosse Monday and held off a fast-closing Eagan team for an 8-6 South Suburban Conference victory.
The Apple Valley boys lacrosse team built a 6-0 lead, then turned back a furious second-half Eagan rally to claim an 8-6 win Monday in a South Suburban Conference matchup at home.
Eagan got the first four shots on goal, but none of them reached the back of the net. Then, Apple Valley took over. The Eagles led 4-0 after the first quarter, and 6-0 in the second before the Wildcats started connecting.
“Our transitions were very good,” said Apple Valley head coach Ben Uzilk.
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Eagan bounced back and cut Apple Valley’s lead to 6-3 at the half on a three-goal binge in less than two minutes on scores by Cody Grovenstein, Scott Pescheret and Max Eksebheimer.
Neither team could gain much of an advantage in the third period and Apple Valley led 7-4 with one quarter to play. The Wildcats made it exciting in the final quarter, however.
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Junior midfielder Connor Uzlik gave the Eagles an 8-4 lead just into the fourth period. Eagan’s Pescheret and Cullen Willox scored to cut the lead to 8-6 and came close on another goal in the final minute before time expired.
“I liked that we didn’t give up in the fourth quarter,” said Eagan junior defenseman Zack Block. “And when we were one-man down (to penalties) we held them to 0-2, that was something to be proud of for the offense and the defense.”
Junior midfielder Derek Falteisek had a big offensive night, with two goals and assists on each of Apple Valley’s final four scores. Connor Uzlik and Tim Toavs had two goals each for the Eagles.
The win was a measure of revenge for the Eagles, who lost 14-6 to Eagan in the regular season last year and then fell 10-4 to the Wildcats in the section finals.
“Last year we lost both games to them so this was about getting revenge,” said Connor Uzlik, Apple Valley's leading season scorer who had two goals and an assist Monday. “Our ball movement and cuts were good and our defensive play was really good, too.”
Goaltender Josh Wielenga got his first win of the season, stopping 16 of Eagan's 22 shots on goal.
Apple Valley (1-1, 4-1) hosts Lakeville North at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday.
